Pennsylvania Senate Republicans approve two years of funding for public transit, leaving SEPTA in need of additional specifics
The ongoing debate between Pennsylvania's Senate and House over the 2025-26 budget, specifically the funding for mass transit operations and repairs, remains unresolved. The disagreement centres around the balance between maintaining or increasing funding for transit operations and protecting capital investments.
Senate Republicans, led by Governor Shapiro's critics, have passed Senate Bill 160, which funds many services, including mass transit, at 2024-25 levels. The bill reallocates nearly $840 million from the Public Transportation Trust Fund and includes new safety and SEPTA reform measures. However, this bill cuts public transit funding compared to the Governor’s proposed increases and diverts money from capital improvement projects to daily operations.
House Democrats, including Senator Lindsey M. Williams, have criticized the Senate plan for reducing transit funding, risking safety and infrastructure maintenance, and mandating fare hikes. They argue that it endangers transit system safety and accessibility. As a result, negotiations between the chambers and the Governor continue without a final agreement.
The Senate's mass transit funding bill may divert capital dollars to operating funds, causing concern for SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer. The bill extends the authority of the state special prosecutor for crimes on SEPTA through Dec. 31, 2035. It also classifies as a first-degree felony assault or attempted assault of a transit operator causing death or bodily harm to the operator or another person.
SEPTA is preparing for deep service cuts due to a lack of agreed long-term funding for transit and faces a $213 million operating deficit. The agency announced state funding is needed by Aug. 14 to avoid enacting a first round of cuts. The transportation measure draws from money in the Public Transportation Trust Fund and revenue from taxing interactive gaming.
The budget includes a two-year, $1.2 billion transportation plan, which Democrats oppose for funding mass transit operations and rural road repairs. The Senate's mass transit funding plan requires transit agencies to increase fares annually based on inflation indicators, unless they receive a waiver from PennDOT.
The Senate's budget proposal falls significantly short of Shapiro's $51.5 billion budget pitch and the House's $50.6 billion spending plan. The transportation measure and the full budget spending bill passed the Senate along party lines.
The disagreement over mass transit funding is a significant hurdle in finalizing the 2025-26 state budget. As of mid-August 2025, no final agreement has been reached, and the budget process remains in deadlock with potential impacts on public transit service and infrastructure maintenance.
[1] Keenan, K. (2025, August 10). Pennsylvania's budget stalemate continues over mass transit funding. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved from https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2025/08/10/Pennsylvania-budget-stalemate-mass-transit-funding/stories/202508100112
[2] Hanna, A. (2025, August 12). Pennsylvania Senate passes $47.6 billion budget with flat funding. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-senate-passes-47-6-billion-budget-with-flat-funding-20250812.html
[3] Snyder, M. (2025, August 13). Pennsylvania budget stalemate: House Democrats criticize Senate plan for mass transit. WITF. Retrieved from https://witf.org/news/2025/08/13/pennsylvania-budget-stalemate-house-democrats-criticize-senate-plan-for-mass-transit/
[4] Ruch, E. (2025, August 14). Pennsylvania Senate's mass transit funding bill faces criticism. The Patriot-News. Retrieved from https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/08/pennsylvania_senates_mass_transit_funding_bill_faces_criticism.html
[5] Wagner, M. (2025, August 15). Pennsylvania Senate passes mass transit funding bill, but Democrats say it's a cut. WHYY. Retrieved from https://whyy.org/news/pennsylvania-senate-passes-mass-transit-funding-bill-but-democrats-say-its-a-cut/
- The management of SEPTA is preparing for deep service cuts due to a lack of agreed long-term funding from the finance sector, facing a significant $213 million operating deficit.
- The Senate's mass transit funding bill, a part of the broader transportation industry, may cause concern for SEPTA's General Manager, Scott Sauer, as it potentially diverts capital dollars to operating funds.
- Under the Senate's mass transit funding plan, transportation businesses like SEPTA would be required to increase fares annually based on inflation indicators, unless they receive a waiver from PennDOT, which could affect the accessibility of transportation for many people.
